History

Karate originated on a small island between Japan and China called OKINAWA. In 1477 the King of Okinawa banned the carrying of all weapons in a bid to end civil war. With this the people of Okinawa turned to neighbouring China and combined some Chinese forms of empty-handed self-defence with their own form of martial art. From these roots three main styles of Karate evolved:

"NAHA-TE" which is now called "GOJU-RYU", "SHURI-TE and "TOMARE-TE" both of which now come under the name of "SHORIN-RYU".

A large group of Chinese families moved to Okinawa around 1392 for the purpose of cultural exchange, where they established the community of Kumemura and shared their knowledge of a wide variety of Chinese arts and sciences, including the Chinese martial arts. Members of the Okinawan upper classes were sent to China regularly to study various political and practical disciplines. The incorporation of empty-handed Chinese Kung Fu into Okinawan martial arts occurred partly because of these exchanges and partly because of growing legal restrictions on the use of weaponry. Traditional karate kata bear a strong resemblance to the forms found in Fujian martial arts such as Fujian White Crane, Five Ancestors, and Gangrou-quan (Hard Soft Fist; pronounced "Gōjūken" in Japanese).

Notable People

Kanryo Higaonna (Founder of Naha-te) 1851-1915

Kanryo Higaonna was born in Naha, Okinawa on 10 March 1851. In 1866 he travelled to Foochow Southern China to study the Chinese martial arts. After a year in residence at the Okinawan settlement in Foochow he was introduced to Master Ryu Ryu Ko a renowned master of Southern Chinese arts. After following the age-old custom of service to his master he was accepted as a disciple and trained with his teacher for thirteen years before returning to Naha Okinawa where his martial arts became known as Naha-te. Kanryo taught these martial arts to the people of Okinawa. He died on 23 December 1915 at the age of 63.

Chojun Miyagi (Founder of Goju Ryu) 1888-1953

Chojun Miyagi was born on 25 April 1888 in Naha, Okinawa. He began training in karate under Kanryo Higaonna at the age of 14, in 1902. He studied with his teacher for 14 years before his teacher's death in 1915. The same year he journeyed to Foochow China to further his research into the martial arts. This was one of three trips he made to China during his lifetime. On returning to Okinawa he began to teach at his home in Naha. It is said that the naming of Goju-Ryu came about more by accident than design. In 1930 Chojun Miyagi's top student, while in Tokyo was asked by numerous martial arts masters as to what school of martial arts he practiced. As Naha-te had no formal name he could not answer this question. On returning to Okinawa he reported the incident to Chojun Miyagi. After much consideration Miyagi decided on "Goju-Ryu" (hard and soft school) as the name for his style. "Go" means hard and "Ju means soft. It is a blend of Okinawan Te (hard) and Shaolin Kung Fu (soft). Chojun Miyagi died on 8 October 1953 at the age of 65.

Morio Higaonna Video

Morio Higaonna (東恩納盛男 Higaonna Morio, born December 25, 1938) is a prominent Okinawan karate practitioner who is the founder and Chief Instructor of the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation (IOGKF). He is a holder of the highest rank in Goju-ryu karate, 10th dan.